John’s Top Ten Albums of 2021

I listened to a lot of cool music in 2021. The problem is all the “new” artists I got into were artists who had released albums in 2020. So not only did it fuck this year’s list, it fucked last year’s list too. If you’re curious those bands were Beach Bunny, Vulfpeck, and Khurangbin. Thanks a lot 2020.

The hard part of listmaking this year was I had no road map. I gave up on Pitchfork about a year ago cuz they think they’re so big. YouTube turned out to be helpful. I follow a couple of indie record labels and try to keep tabs on up and coming artists. KEXP’s YouTube channel is incredibly helpful. Those guys r kewl.

And I’m not embarrassed to admit I still check the Billboard Hot 100. Well, maybe a little embarrassed. I say all this and I didn’t end up with that crazy of a list. At least it’s not crazy to me. I’m not crazy. Anyways, here’s my not crazy list.

Honorable Mention
I’d tell you but then I’d have to kill you.

There’s no “Bad Guy” here. No song with a music video that Melissa McCarthy will ever parody on an episode of Ellen. That’s a real thing. Look it up. But where Happier Than Ever lacks in the hit department, it makes up for it with Billie’s growth as a lyricist.

Happier Than Ever leads off with “Getting Older” where Billie describes the pressures of growing up while the public watches and judges her. The songs are less fun, more poignant. There is fun to be had though. “Lost Cause” was a laid back summer favorite and “Therefore I Am” is a moody toe tapper. This isn’t a perfect album. There are slow spots for sure. But Billie and her brother/collaborator Finneas are trying new things and evolving as artists. They’ve still got an exciting future ahead of them.

Dude, there are at least three tracks on this debut that are fuckin’ bops. The only reason this album isn’t higher is because most of the album chills in that mellow, mid-tempo space that a lot of modern pop music occupies. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a nice space to be in. I prefer current pop music way more than when I was a teen, but it all can get a little same-y.

SOUR feels special though. There’s a real power to Olivia Rodrigo’s break out ballad “Driver’s License”. That’s a song that feels like an artist telling their story. There’s a personal touch on this album which surprised me considering Olivia Rodrigo initially felt like a quick cash-in to find the next big teen pop star. Thankfully, Olivia Rodrigo has the talent to justify such a meteoric rise. I hope she keeps rockin’ too. “brutal” and “good 4 u” are fuckin’ bops. Down with homework!

I forgot to listen to this album until this week. I know people say it’s sad but sad can be good sometimes. I liked it. That music video where Kacey Musgraves is shattered into a bunch of pieces like Death Becomes Her is pretty badass.

What a couple of years it’s been for Doja Cat. She’s had hit songs, she got a dance in Fortnite, she even has a song in a Taco Bell commercial. That’s way more impressive to me than an EGOT. Doja dabbles with Latin flair on songs like “Woman” and does cool sci-fi future shit with “Need to Know”.

Doja oozes charisma and impresses as one of the few mainstream artists I’m aware of that is just a proficient singer as she is a rapper. Though that doesn’t mean much coming from me. I know nothing. Though I do know Taco Bell and that song in the Taco Bell commercial is one of my favorites of 2021.

I have just been informed that there is nothing left to say about the War on Drugs. We did it. We won!